chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Anatoly Karpov vs Boris Spassky
Interpolis 4th (1980), Tilburg NED, rd 9, Sep-29
Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation. Keres Attack (B81)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

Click Here to play Guess-the-Move
Given 39 times; par: 48 [what's this?]

explore this opening
find similar games 42 more Karpov/Spassky games
PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: To see the raw PGN for this game, click on the PGN: view link above.

PGN Viewer:  What is this?
For help with this chess viewer, please see the Olga Chess Viewer Quickstart Guide.
PREMIUM MEMBERS CAN REQUEST COMPUTER ANALYSIS [more info]

A COMPUTER ANNOTATED SCORE OF THIS GAME IS AVAILABLE.  [CLICK HERE]

Kibitzer's Corner
Feb-13-05  Albertan: An interesting game in the Keres Attack variation of the Sicilian Defense:Scheveningen Variation. 6.!? is known as the Keres Attack (named for GM Paul Keres).

The move 8...d5!? is interesting.GM's suggest that when black is able to play ...d5 he or she has gained equality.

Feb-13-05  Albertan: Albertan: The move 15.Nf5! is beautiful creating the obvious threat of 16.Qxd5 (so this threat forced Spassky to give up the two bishops). I am sure Spassky must have contemplated playing 16...Qd7!? instead of 16..a6. If he had played 16...Qd7!? play might have continued: 17.Qxd5 Qxd5 18.Rxd5 a6 19.Bxc6 bxc6 20.Rd3 Rd8 21.Ra3 Ra8 and Karpov would have an advantage in the endgame due to his better pawn structure.
Feb-13-05  Albertan: Karpov's move of 17.Bxc6! is quite instructive, simplying the position and creating more weaknesses in the Black position.

Spassky's move of 22...Bg5 ?is an error. He should have played 22..Qb8 or 22...Qf8

If Spassky had played 22...Qf8 play might have continued: 23.Qa5 Qb8 24.Rd2 !? Bg5 25.Re3!? Bxe3! 26.fxe3 Qe5 27.cxd5 cxd5 28.e4!? Qa1+ 29.Kc2 [] Rb8 30.Rxd5

Feb-13-05  Albertan: The move 24.cxd5 is effective, threatening 25.dxc6+ (with a forced checkmate in 10 according to Shredder 8!!). I wonder why Spassky did not try the move 26...Qb3+ ? then after 27.Qc3 Qb5+ 28.Qc4 Bh4 29.Rg1 Bf6 30.d6 Re8 he Black seems to be okay.

32.f6! is threatening 33.Ra7+

Jul-28-06  Ulhumbrus: Instead of 12..Be7, on 12..Bb4+! 13 c3 Be7 Black has induced White to disturb his Queen side pawns, and White can castle only on the Queen side.
Jul-28-06  Ulhumbrus: 13...Bxh4 opens the h file. Instead of this, 13...Bb4+ 14 c3 Be7 may still be correct, despite the loss of time.
Aug-27-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  ToTheDeath: Good god this is a beautiful game. Karpov at his peak, fresh from destroying Korchnoi and dominating every tournament in sight.

Apr-23-11  Everett: Karpov's interpretations of some aggressive lines is really interesting. He simply smothers his opponent instead of trying to blow him off the board.
Apr-23-11  goldenbear: 17.Bxc6? throws away the win. Spassky should have played 19.Kd7 with equality.
Jun-06-12  LoveThatJoker: Guess-the-Move Final Score:

Karpov vs Spassky, 1980.
YOU ARE PLAYING THE ROLE OF KARPOV.
Your score: 61 (par = 50)

LTJ

Aug-16-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  harrylime: Spassky played the opening extremely lame...

and was dutifully punished...

Nov-29-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  perfidious: A significant improvement in Spassky's play was introduced in the correspondence game G Timmerman vs Ulf Andersson, 1994.
Oct-21-20
Premium Chessgames Member
  woldsmandriffield: The game score gives 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 but a photograph taken at the event clearly shows that Spassky played 2..e6

https://images.app.goo.gl/vFX2mUrxC...

Oct-22-20  RookFile: It's a funny thing. I remember that at the time, Spassky's 13....Bxh4 was severely criticized. I think Mednis said a younger version of Spassky wouldn't even have considered the move.

Yet the computer rates the position as 0.09 before Bxh4, and the advantage only grows to 0.14 after the move.

So the move probably is inaccurate, but it is not as bad as folks thought it was back then.

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
  3. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
  5. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
  6. No trolling.
  7. The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited.
  8. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

Blow the Whistle

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.


NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific game only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

This game is type: CLASSICAL. Please report incorrect or missing information by submitting a correction slip to help us improve the quality of our content.

<This page contains Editor Notes. Click here to read them.>

Featured in the Following Game Collections[what is this?]
Anatoly Karpov's Best Games
by KingG
karpov-spassky duke it out in 1980
from positionalgenius' favorite games by positionalgenius
Game 6
from Karpov : Chess At The Top 1979-1984 by refutor
0ZeR0's Favorite Games Volume 23
by 0ZeR0
83
from OMGP V by keypusher
Round Nine, Game #51
from Tilburg Interpolis 1980 by suenteus po 147
1980 - Sicilian, Scheveningen, Keres Attack (B81)
from Favorite Karpov games by Cinco
Anatoly Karpov's Best Games
by Sui Generis
Karpov Tournament Champion - I
by amadeus
Karpov vs. the World Champions Decisive Games
by visayanbraindoctor
92
from Anatoly Karpov - My Best 300 Games by jakaiden
Chess Informant Best Games 2
by koinonia
Anatoly Karpov's Best Games
by Psihadal
How Karpov Wins 2nd Edition
by BntLarsen
Anatoly Karpov
by blues66
Basic Instinct
by Imohthep
Spassky vs the World Champions Decisive Games
by visayanbraindoctor
Karpov's Sicilians
by Pawn N Hand
Game 293
from # Chess Informant Best Games 201-300 by Qindarka
92
from Anatoly Karpov - My Best 300 Games by PassedPawnDuo
plus 35 more collections (not shown)

Home | About | Login | Logout | F.A.Q. | Profile | Preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | New Kibitzing | Chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | Notable Games | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Store | Privacy Notice | Contact Us

Copyright 2001-2023, Chessgames Services LLC